"She kept crying and she kneeled on the floor and she said to me 'I'm sorry...I love your mother,'" said Cresencia Obaldo. Obaldo said Pereira, however, denied any of the videotaped treatment unleashed on the woman with Alzheimers, diabetes, heart problems and other issues was abusive.

When police were called in, they disagreed with Pereira.

"I consider myself a pretty hardened individual," said Police Chief Thomas Comey, who noted, "and I have a tough time watching this video."

Pereira faces multiple charges of aggravated assault with extreme indifference, neglect of a disabled person and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, all of which are third-degree offenses.

One investigator told NBCNewYork he fears that means that if convicted, Pereira will only serve probation and not any jail time.

Police Chief Comey did have some advice for anyone about to engage a caregiver.

"Research the company with the Better Business Bureau and state regulator," said Comey.

He added that there should be an interview with the caregiver and a close check of his or her references.

Comey also suggested additional precautionary measures. "Buy a recording camera, and tell the caregiver" that it is there, so that the caregiver will be on best behavior.

Sometimes that's the only way to find out if something is amiss.

"We just trusted this person and we overlooked our responsibility," said Samin.